Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-01-27

l prefer the naked, unadorned prohi-
bitionist.
Mr.. President, Lord Burleigh once
declared that England could never
be ruined but by u Parliament and l
believe the same Of our American re-
publics. When the law making
power proves r%eoreant to its high
trust and attempts to throw back
upon the inorganic mass the RESPONSE
bility and power of enacting laws it
will forfeit the esteem and confidence
of the conservative public opinion of
the world. The exercise of such
powers by the people must %necessari-
ly be revolutionary and %suhversive OF
Dur existing American governments.
As has been minated heretofore
our people have wisely refused to ex-
ercise this power but while commit
ting it to Legislatures they have sur
rounded its exercise by them with
Statutory restraints to prevent law
from being tainted by the tickle i'm
pulse and prepossessions of the chang
ing crowd and becoming other than
the result of modified reason and well
informed conscience. The division
of our Legislatures into two houses
Is one of these restraints. The veto
power is another and reference to
committee still another. Why then
seek other means of L~egislatng. If
the Legislature had not adequate
power, what fact might be an excuse
But ifsuch submission is resorted to,
to escape responsibility,i it a neve be
expedient. The people have spoken.
They have clothed us with the neces-
sary authority and are presumed to
be present with us. The representa-
tive is the exponent of their opinions,
hope and sympathies. He is answer
able to them for the proper discharge
of the Stewardship and not to a socie-
ty, a guild, o sewing circle, faction
or cabal. This is the voice of the
people. This is the custodian of
American liberty. There is no nobler,
grander system of liberty than that
| sustained through restraint and re-
sponsible representative Legislation
and no reform is worthy of American
confidence that is sought to be
brought about by other can There
should be no secrecy in Legislation.
There at least should be the openness
that is secured by the aye and nay
vote. But when the electors ticket
is cast into the ballot box his name is
conceal. d and no responsibility al.
taches to him personally and individ.
ually. There is no power to which
he is responsible. Very uncertain
and conflicting an the impulses that
govern the masses to those that dom.
mate responsible legislative assem-.
bles. The voter casts his secret bal.
lot and goes his way, and the result
too often is that liberty is the play.
thing Of caprice. American liberty
is an organized institution, a system
guarded by constitutional protection,
and it would be criminal to abandon
it, to the blind and irresponsible ac
ton of the multitude. Let US ther
abide by the wisdom of u fathers
and suffer not the principles of rep
re%sentative government to be stricken
down. If prohibition is a meritorious
cause why do its advocates decline to
carry it by the ordinary processes o.
constitutional and responsible Legis
lation? Whyi is a system of procedure
usually so beneficial and satisfactory
to be departed from in the single in
stance of prohibition? These re
formers do not ask US to enact s
prohibitory law. TLey are satisfied
with nothing less than that this as.
assembly shall vacate and let then
fill up such a law and settle the
question themselves.